Nearly a year after 27 people were displaced from a major Oak Street arson, clean-up work on at least one of the scorched properties has finally begun.

On Tuesday, crews from Stonington-based Coastal Roll-Off Containers arrived at 11 Oak St. with a large receptacle, signaling the start of remediation efforts at the downtown site that was one of three severely damaged in the March 25 fire.

City Blight Enforcement Officer Ed Martin said the parcel’s owner recently obtained a demolition permit to begin work there, and officials are eager to see the debris removed

“We hate the look of it ourselves,” Martin said. “We’re being aggressive with it and doing everything we possibly can.”

That includes levying nearly $5,000 in fines to the owner of 7-9 Oak Street for not responding to violation notices sent by the city, Martin said.

Residents of the area prompted leaders to publicly address the issue during a One City Forum last Saturday, where City Manager Alan Bergren said improving the parcels was a top priority.

“Something has got to be done,” he said. “They’re eyesores and don’t do anybody any good.”

Part of the reason it has taken so long for clean-up efforts to begin is because of the lengthy arson investigation that followed the blaze. In July, police arrested four people in connection with the crime.